Herding: Poppy

We took the pups for some instinct testing. Becky and John brought Willow, too. It was so much fun. All the pups did great, and it was interesting to see how they all worked a little differently.

Poppy went first. She's the calmest and most submissive of the puppies. She was very calm and kept looking at Dale and Janna, the trainer, for some encouragement. But it didn't take her long to discover she had some authority here. She moved the sheep so well, keeping them together, and instinctively bringing them back to the center of the ring to Dale. Way to go, Poppy!

Herding: Clover

Clover went second, first working with Poppy, then by herself. Clover has a little more enthusiasm but she was never out of control. She tended to scatter the sheep a little, and I often saw Poppy stopping short like she was wondering, "What is she doing?" Clover did help Poppy get a little more amped up, which I guess the trainer was happy to see.

Again, it didn't take long for Clover to figure things out, either. Pretty quickly she was circling the sheep calmly, keeping them together.

Clover moves so beautifully. Here she is working the sheep alone. I think she's got it!

Herding: Willow

It was so great that Willow got to come with us, too. Willow has a very strong, confident personality and we knew she'd do great. First, she went in to work with Clover.

Then she worked on her own. She was a natural.

Clover

Same park, different puppy. Clover is a real sweetheart, but she has a lot more puppy energy than Poppy. She gets very excited about meeting new people and dogs, and doesn't quite have the concept of "careful" when on the leash with my daughter. But she was a very good girl and got lots of compliments on her shiny coat.

Poppy at the Park

I'm so impressed with Poppy. I would never be able to let my daughter walk any of the other dogs, because eventually they'd push her over or pull her down due to their, shall we say, enthusiasm? Poppy is ever-attentive and so respectful, she actually treats her like a person, and kept a close eye on her when she was off-leash. If shegot too far away, Poppy would run to her and touch her hand. When on-leash, she stayed right next to her, never once pulling her even a little. How amazing is that for a 5 month-old puppy?

The Pack

Four dogs in a house has been quite an adventure. I must say though, that all the dogs are so good. Other than the extra dirt tracked in the house requiring sweeping at least once per day, they are a real joy.

Finding a holistic home for Clover has not been easy. I really underestimated the perceived value of a naturally reared dog. In my opinion, I think it is SO valuable. Unless I rescue a dog, I will never buy another conventionally raised dog again. To have a dog whose immune system has never been assaulted by vaccines or medications, and raised on a raw meat and bone diet from the get-go... How cool is that? I can't think of a better way to maximize the potential for a long, healthy life.

I've added a new link about Natural Rearing. I'm not a member, because I'm not a breeder. But it's basically the philosophy we've followed in raising the puppies, and keeping all our dogs healthy.

So we've made the decision to hold out for a holistic home for Clover. And if she doesn't find one, she gets to stay here. She's a lot of fun and besides, we love her.

Best Puppies in the World